Bulkhead construction



W. J. WATSON BULKHEAD CONSTRUCTION Filed May 20 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 13, 1925 w. J. WATSON BULKHEAD cous'mucnou Filed May 20, 1922 Sheets She et 2- Patented Oct. 1 3, 1925 v v 7 i U IT DI' ATE wILBUn J'. WA'1SON, 0r EAs'r c EvELAnD, 0111c, ASSIGNOR or onnnnnr TO EDWARD P TE T}?OFF M. GRA ES, or CLEVELAND, OHIO.

BULKHEAD consrnocrron.

Constructions, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to"ii-construction of bulkheads for use particularly in marine works, such as wharves; dock s, levees, jetties,

breakwate'rs andthe like. W I 7 My invention has. for itsobject the attainingof the greatest possible strength and safety in such sftruc tures with the greatest possible economy in the cost of materlals and of erection.

l i More particularly,. it is the object of this invention to. provide a relatively light wall constructed of sheet piling which is capable of withstanding heavy pressured Further objects will appearfrom the following .description. and the annexed draw- V Generally speaking, the invention'may be said to comprise the elements and combinations thereof. set forth in the accompanying drawings. V i Q In the annexed drawing, Fig. lis a horizontal section through the .upper portion of :the wall; Fig. 2.is av section similarto Fig.

fiedconstruction'is shown inwhich the cor- 1 showing a slightlyflinodified construction; Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;' Fig. 4. is a section on line4+-4of Fig. 1"; Fig. 5 is a detailview showing the piling interlock.

Referring to the annexed drawings, the bulkhead consists of a corrugated wall 1 formed by a zigzag row of piling driven into the ground and braced as will be hereinafter described. The piling forming the body ofthe wall preferably consists of sheet piles 1 interlocking edge to edge arranged in a zigzag row and driven a suitable distance into the ground. The zigzag wall 1 formed by the piling 1" has regularly spaced outturned and inturned portions forming vertically extending corrugations. The inner peaks 2 and the outer peaks 3 of the corrugations are in substantial alignment. In order to rigidly brace the corrugated wall structure. a reinforced concrete cap beam 4 of a width substantially corresponding to the depth of the corrugations in the wall is secured upon the top of the piling.

Application filed May 20, 1922. Serial No. 562,292

The cap beam 4 has inner and outer depend ing edge flanges- 5 and 5 which. respectively, connect the peaks 2 and 3 of the corrugations on opposite sides of the wall. Likewise the cap beam 4 has depending diagonal ribs 6 inwhich the upper edge of the plling 1 is imbedded. The ends of the diagonal ribs 6 are 'enlarged as shownat 6 where they join theside flanges 5 and 5 and the peak portions of the corrugations are imbedded in the thickened portions 6*.

' The cap beam 4 also has dependingtransverse ribs 8 extending at right angles to the edge flanges'5 and '5 from the middle of the thickened portion 6 'on'oneside to the opposite edge flanges. The Lflanges 5, 5 and ribs 6 preferably extend tothe water line and protect the upper edge portion of the piling which would otherwise be exposed. It is not essential that the reinforcing cap beam be of concrete, since if desired a composite structural steel beam corresponding to the concrete beam shownniay be used.

It is notessential that the piling be of the same length 'sinceiit may be advisable to provide longer piles extending. further into the ground in some-parts of :the wall, depending-uponthe load to .be supported and the character of the ground into which, the

piles are driven.

In Fig. 20f the drawingia'slightlymodirugationsof the-wall formed, by the sheet corrugations are ofiiniform depth. I

In the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 2 a cap similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 3 is employed. This cap beam 14 has depending edge flanges 15 connecting the peaks 12 on the inner side of the wall and the peaks 13 of the corrugations on the outenl side of the Wall. Diagonal ribs 16 are formed on the inner side of the cap beam and the upper edge ofthe piling 11 is imbedded in these ribs.- Thickened blocks 17 integral with the edge flanges 15 and diagonal ribs 16 are formed at the intersections between the edge flanges 15 anddiagonal ribs 16. The peak portions 12 and 13 of the corrugations are imbedded in the blocks 17. The cap beam is also providedwith transverse ribs 18 at right angles to the edge fianges15 and extending from the blocks 17 in which the peak portions of the corrugations are imbedded directly across to the opposite edge flange 15.

In both modifications above described, the cap beam provides an effective reinforcement for the wall. The edge flanges of the cap beam provide rigid braces between the peaks of adjacent corrugations on the inner and outer sides of the wall respectively. The diagonal ribs rigidly hold the upper edge of the wall to shape and strengthen the inwardly and outwardly extending portions of the wall and the transverse intermediate ribs form braces between the peak of each corrugation and the edge flange on the opposite side of the beam and add materially to the rigidity of the structure. An embankment 19 may be filled in beyond the wall and beneath the cap beam if desired.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A bulkhead, comprising a wall formed of sheet piling driven into the ground, said piling having interlocking edges adapted to transmit stresses horizontally in the direction of the sheeting, said wall having a continuous curvature and turned inwardly and outwardly at regular intervals lengthwise thereof, to form vertical corrugations and bracing means connecting the peaks of adjacent corrugations at the front and rear of the wall, respectively.

2. A bulkhead, comprising piles driven into the ground in a row with regularly spaced inwardly and outwardly turned portions forming a corrugated wall, anda cap beam, of a uniform width substantially corresponding to the depth of the corrugations, secured upon the upper edge of the wall.

I 3. A bulkhead, comprising sheet piling interlocked edge to edge and driven into the ground, said piling being arranged in a row with regularly spaced inwardly and outwardly turned portions forming a corrugated wall, and a cap beam, of a uniform width substantially corresponding to the depth of thecorrugations, secured uponthe upper edge of the wall.

4. A bulkhead, comprising sheet piling interlocked edge to edge and driven into the ground, said piling being arranged in a row with regularly spaced inwardly and outwardly "turned portions forming a corrugated wall, and a concrete cap beam of uniform width within which the upper edge of the piling is imbedded with the peaks of the corrugations adjacent opposite edges of the beaml 5. A bulkhead, comprising sheet piling interlocked edge to edge and driven into the ground in a row having regularlyspaced inwardly and outwardly turned portions forming a corrugated wall, and a cap beam "having depending flanges connecting the peaks of the corrugations on opposite sides of the wall and transverse stiffening ribs connecting said flanges.

.6. A bulkhead, comprising sheet piling interlocked .edge to edge and driven into the ground, said piling being arranged in a zigzag row with regularly spaced'inwardly and outwardly turned portions forming a corrugated wall, and a concrete cap beam uponthe upper edge of said corrugated wall, said cap beam having depending edge flanges connecting the peaks of .the corrugations on opposite sides of the wall and transverse stiffening ribs extending from the peak of each corrugation to the rib on the .opposite side of the beam.

7. In a bulkhead, the combination with a wall formed of sheet piling interlocked edge to edgeand arranged with regularly spaced inturned and outturned portions forming verticalcorrugations, of a concrete cap beam of a width corresponding substantially to vthe depth of the corrugations, said cap beam having depending longitudinal rib at the edges thereof, diagonal ribs in which the upper edge of the piling is embedded, and transverse ribs extending directly across the beam from the peak of each corrugation to the flange on the opposite sideof'the beam.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto ,afiix my signature.

lVILBUR J. \VATSON. 

